How to live large in a small space — hint, clutter is the enemy

Living in a small space has its challenges, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style — or space — to have a dreamy home.

David SyrekChicago Tribune

Yes, living in a small space has its challenges, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style — or space — to have a dreamy home. Your design shouldn’t be dictated by how much or how little space you are working with. It’s all about making the right choices.

Before you think about what to bring into your space, think about what you can get rid of.

Clutter is the No. 1 enemy of small-space living, so editing is key. Bottom line: If you don’t use it, let it go.

Getting rid of stuff that you don’t use can be tough — even an emotional experience — but an edited home will feel more open and inviting. Just remember to keep it up daily by eliminating clutter, like junk mail, as soon as it comes through the door.

“It’s a constant purge, from your clothes to your home accessories, and just because someone gives you a gift, that doesn’t mean that you can’t regift it,” said Chicago and Los Angeles designer Douglas Levine. “Only keep things that you love and are relevant at the moment.”

Cords can eat up visual space, so look for ways to hide them with wall-mounted TVs, cordless lamps, and by creating dedicated spaces for smartphone and laptop charging.

In their most recent book, “Remodelista: The Organized Home” (Artisan, $24.95), authors Julie Carlson and Margot Guralnick suggest creating hidden electronics charging stations in drawers throughout the house as out-of-sight places to charge electronics and combat “cord creep.”

“It should be about ease and utility,” says Levine. “In my bedroom, I have a built-in electronics station that flips down for my iPad and cellphone to charge, then it flips back up, and you don’t see it.”

To create a unified, well-thought-out space, think about styles that you like, pick one and carry it throughout your home.

“I’m a big believer that the floors should be consistent throughout a home, said Levine. Have one floor finish to unify everything. If floors are wood in your living room, have them in your kitchen, have them in your foyer. That will really increase the visual size of the house.”

The scale of the pieces that you incorporate into the room matters, but rules are meant to be broken. All of your furniture doesn’t need to be on a small scale as long as you create a sense of harmony and visual flow.

Look for bigger pieces that “float,” like a sofa that’s raised off of the floor on legs, or a clear Lucite or glass cocktail table.

You may have heard that mirrors are a small room’s best friend — well, it’s true. Mirrors are the easiest way to create the illusion of space. The options are endless, but a mirror is going to make a statement in the room, so choose wisely. How to do it? Go big. Try a simply framed oversize mirror, and lean it against the wall to create drama and instantly open up the space.

Here are a few more ways to create a chic, small space that you won’t want to leave.

We investigated some of the more prevalent claims to see which have merit and which don’t.

(Lauren Hill)

Midwestern kindness runs deep, but throughout the city's neighborhoods, it turns out some residents are more polite than others (or simply complain less). Digital Third Coast, a Chicago-based digital marketing firm, recently analyzed 2018 data of complaints to 311 from the 30 most densely populated neighborhoods. They looked at noise, garbage and dog poop complaints to determine where residents were less than pleased with their surroundings. How did your 'hood fair? Click through to see which 10 city locales yielded the most complaints per capita.